Approximately $550 worth of damage was done over the weekend to two school busses at Center Valley Elementary School in Russellville.

According to a Pope County Sheriff's report, officers went to the school Saturday to find the front windshield and rear emergency door window of one bus busted. Someone had also allegedly sprayed a fire extinguisher all over the bus before tossing the empty can through the rear window of a nearby school bus.

On the driveway at the school, "New Orleans," "N.O." and "LSU" were reportedly written with fire extinguisher chemicals.

Chase leads to arrest

A local man was arrested and held at the Pope County Detention Center last week for fleeing, driving on suspended driver's license, resisting arrest, stop sign violation, improper lane usage, left of center, driving on shoulder, speeding 85 mph in a 45 mph zone and improper passing.

At about 8 p.m. Nov. 10, Russellville police officer David Bevis spotted a gray Oldsmobile passenger car traveling north on North Frankfort from East J Street, according to a police report.

Bevis, aware that the owner of the car had warrants for his arrest and a suspended driver's license, initiated a traffic stop. However, when the driver noticed Bevis' presence, he allegedly sped up, running stop signs on East L Street, North Greenwich, East M Street, East O Street, North Parker Road, and then University Drive, the report said.

The officer requested assistance before the vehicle continued north and ran a stop sign to enter State Highway 124 (eastbound) at a high rate of speed. When out on the highway, Bevis reported, the vehicle passed a car on a double-yellow line, swerved into the oncoming lane and the shoulder, and continued to travel at nearly twice the posted speed limit.

Because officers knew the vehicle's location, they were able to deploy spike strips in the car's path and caused it to finally stop around the 7600 Block of State Highway 124.

Three officers were able to take the man into custody. His vehicle was towed.

Book-lifter

A juvenile accused of attempting to steal a witchcraft book from a local bookstore has now been referred to a juvenile probation officer.

According to a Russellville police report from Officer Joseph Paterak, a Hastings' Video employee reportedly saw at about 4 p.m. Nov. 10 the juvenile male tuck the book "Luciferian Witchcraft" into his pants to conceal it.

The manager on duty confronted the teenager, noting he could see the outline of the book from underneath the teen's shirt. The manager was able to retrieve the book and detain the juvenile until authorities arrived.

The boy's parents were then contacted, and he was issued a juvenile citation for theft of property. The value of the book was $25.99.

'Finders Keepers'

not always true

A woman may be charged with theft of property after she picked up $200 in cash a man ahead of her in the grocery store line unknowingly dropped.

According to a Russellville police report from Nathan Teaff, a Kroger manager called police after viewing a surveillance video in which a man, while attempting to pay for his groceries, accidentally dropped the money on the floor, the report said.

About two minutes after the man leaves the area, a woman allegedly walked to the cash and put it in her pocket. She then went to the service desk to get change.

A store employee told police both the man and the woman paid for their merchandise with a credit card.

At the time of the report, police had attempted to contact both parties.